Happy Hour

Miranda: "Why did we stop drinking these?"

Carrie: "Because everyone else started."

Even though they were the ubiquitous girly cocktail of the early 2000s (thanks to SATC), it tough to deny the scrumptiousness of a classic Cosmopolitan.
My version:
2 parts of vodka(Svedka or Ketel One)
1/2-1 part of Triple Sec or Cointreau
2-3 parts of cran-raspberry juice
squeeze a wedge of lime

shake with lots of ice and serve in a chilled glass with a floating slice of lime

Something Beautiful

In the midst of her literal and metaphorical voyage of self-discovery, Elizabeth Gilbert in her memoir Eat, Pray, Love, proclaims:

"I think I deserve something beautiful."

It is such a simple statement that encapsulates vastly universal human longings: for love, for excitement, for pleasure, for material things, for immaterial things. Though I wouldn't go so far as to argue that Gilbert has become a modern day prophet, I certain can identify with her pursuit of pleasure (which she discovers in Italy), devotion (India), and balance (Indonesia).

In the book, her narration about India particularly seized my imagination. Her illustrative descriptions instilled in me a very strong desire to explore this faraway land.

Most of what I know about India comes from film. While I'm guessing that "real" India may be closer to what I saw in Slumdog Millionaire than Monsoon Wedding or The Namesake, there is still something so alluring, so otherworldly about Indian culture. Perhaps because I know so little, I want to travel this place so much more.

So, alas, a few beautiful things from India to hold me over until I get to discover this gigantic, diverse and distant country for myself one day:
PS. Julia Roberts is bringing Eat, Pray, Love to the big screen in August, along with James Franco, Billy Crudup, and Javier Bardem.